KLK holds 50th anniversary ski races in upstate New York
WINDHAM, N.Y. - The Carpathian Ski Club held its 50th anniversary ski races here at Ski Windham on Saturday, February 28, with racing in age groups ranging from 6 and under to 55 and over. Indeed, the annual ski races have now evolved into a true family event with kids and adults of all ages participating, as youngsters cheer on their parents and siblings, and parents root for their children.
Ninety-nine competitors signed up for the jubilee races - the vast majority of them skiers, although there was a sprinkling of snowboarders among the participants. It was the third year that snowboarders competed in separate categories.
Known by its Ukrainian acronym as KLK, the club held its first races in the United States in 1954 at Whiteface, near Lake Placid, N.Y. KLK was founded in Ukraine in 1924 and then transported to Europe and the United States, where it grew and flourished; it was re-established in Ukraine in 1989.
The races at Windham took place on a NASTAR-sanctioned course, specially reserved that morning for the Ukrainian skiers. (NASTAR is the acronym for the National Standard Race, the largest public recreational grass roots ski program in the world.) In the afternoon, KLK race participants and their families had the opportunity to enjoy a gloriously sunny day on the slopes.
That evening, approximately 180 people - athletes of all ages, their families and friends, as well as supporters of KLK who had traveled from near and far, including such cities as Reno, Nev., and Ternopil, Ukraine - attended the awards banquet held at nearby Hunter Mountain Ski Lodge. After KLK President Erko Palydowycz welcomed one and all to the anniversary dinner, a short overview of KLK history was provided by George Popel, who noted that many past winners of KLK races were present at the festive evening.
Special guests at the KLK festivities included several "old-timers" who came to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ski racing, including George Kupchynsky and Roman Hawrylak, two KLK stalwarts who were presented special jubilee awards in recognition of their contributions to the sports club. Two other designated recipients of the awards, Orest Slupchynskyj and Wolodymyr Hnatkiwsky, were unable to attend.
Also among those in attendance were VIP guests from the Embassy of Ukraine who traveled to upstate New York from Washington specially for the KLK races. Yurii Panasiuk and Serhii Svyryba are both deputy chiefs of the Trade and Economic Mission at the Embassy.
Another special guest was a representative of KLK in Lviv, Orest Dubynyak, who briefly addressed the gathering, extending greetings from KLK activists in Ukraine and presenting honorary membership in KLK Ukraine to the sports club's U.S. president, Mr. Palydowycz. In turn, Mr. Dubynyak received a special award from KLK U.S.A, recognizing his work for the club.
Irenaeus Isajiw, vice-president of the Ukrainian Sports Federation of the U.S.A. and Canada, extended congratulations on behalf of the umbrella organization, of which KLK is a member.
Trophies were awarded for first place in each age group; while second- and third-place finishers received medals. Special traveling trophies, which are passed on from year to year to each successive winner (no repeat winners are allowed), were presented for the fastest time posted among men and women competitors. This year's winners of the highly coveted trophies were Yuriy Kucher, who turned in a race time of 29.50, and Tania Ripnick, who came in with 26.62.
Top skiers also received gold, silver and bronze medals awarded by NASTAR based on the course time posted by pacesetters, as well as the gender and age of each racer.
KLK President Palydowycz and officers Orest Fedash and Vira Popel conducted the evening's program, assisted by other KLK leaders and activists who were called on to present awards.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 14, 2004, No. 11, Vol. LXXII
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